Mumbai's worst fears are coming true. MV Rak, the vessel that sank off the coast of Mumbai on Thursday, is now leaking oil. The sunken vessel, Rak Carrier, is leaking oil at an approximate rate of 1.5-2 tonnes per hour.
Mumbai's worst fears are coming true. MV Rak, the vessel that sank off the coast of Mumbai on Thursday, is now leaking oil. The sunken vessel, Rak Carrier, is leaking oil at an approximate rate of 1.5-2 tonnes per hour.
The MV Rak, heading from Tutung, Indonesia to Dahej, Gujarat sank off the coast of Mumbai last Thursday, with 60,000 metric tonnes of coal, 290 tonnes of fuel oil and 50 tonnes of diesel onboard.
A Coast Guard ship Samudra Prahari on patrol responded and used oil spill dispersant to neutralize the spilled oil. The Coast Guard has since launched Operation ‘Paryavaran Suraksha- 2/2011' to clean up the oil.
A defense ministry release estimates the oil spill has spread seven nautical miles from the vessel. Environmentalists are worried that since this is the breeding season the potential ecological damage could be huge.
Maharashtra's Pollution Control Board is currently taking samples from the oil spill and till it has been ruled safe, local fishermen have been told not to fish in the affected waters.
Salvage operations will be difficult to undertake due to the rough weather and tidal conditions because of the monsoons. This means, Mumbai will have to keep its fingers crossed, hoping the oil lead is kept at bay and the vessel stays intact.
The MV Rak had a 30-member crew of different nationalities onboard, all of whom were rescued by the Coast Guard. Authorities have arrested the captain and chief engineer for negligence. They were subsequently released on bail.
